Archive: News

Michael NozzolioWith the latest tax increase approved in the 2009-10 State Budget ready to take effect next month, State Senator Mike Nozzolio condemned Governor Paterson and his Democrat-controlled Senate and Assembly for imposing yet another round of taxes and fees on an already struggling Upstate economy. This time the Democrats’ target was motor vehicle fees, most of which will go up 25 percent on virtually every type of vehicle Upstate New Yorkers use every day. Every individual who drives a car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, or boat will be paying more taxes and fees as the New York State budget that was adopted by Democrats in Albany takes effect next month.

As construction continues on a gas station at the Lansing Tops Market, Village of Lansing officials approved minor changes to the signage on the site.  The plan calls for three pumps in the southeast corner of the Tops parking lot, across the access road from the video store.  A small kiosk will be manned by an attendant, but will not house a convenience store as the one at the downtown Tops does.

Underground tanks were installed this week, and footings for the kiosk are in place.  A Village Planning Board officials says that the gas station could be completed and ready for business by September.

Legislature Endorses Grant Application to Expand Area Broadband Access

By a vote of 9-3, the Legislature endorsed the grant application of Clarity Connect, Inc. for federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand broadband access to local unserved and underserved communities.  (Legislators Frank Proto, Mike Hattery and Kathy Luz Herrera voted no; Legislators Pam Mackesey, Will Burbank and Tyke Randall were absent.)  The application seeks to access a portion of $7.2 billion for national broadband expansion to be distributed by two federal agencies under a nationally competitive grant program.

In mid August all registered voters in Tompkins County should receive a yellow postcard from the Board of Elections confirming their current address and giving poll site information for the upcoming elections. Tompkins County Board of Elections wants voters to check to see if your poll site has changed since you last voted.

The card also lists the dates for the Primary (Sept. 15) and General (Nov. 3) elections. Note that the only voters eligible to vote in the Primary election this year are Republicans in Enfield Election Districts 1 and 2, and Democrats in County Leg District 11 (which includes Town of Ithaca ED 4,5,6,11).  Primary voting will take place on the familiar lever-style voting machines, but a ballot marking device will be available for anyone who’d like to use it.

County Administrator Joe Mareane told the Legislature’s budget committee today it will soon have specific recommendations to consider to fill the County’s budget gap for 2009, caused by an anticipated $2 million shortfall in County sales tax revenue.

As part of a budget update to the Legislature’s Budget, Capital and Finance Committee, Administrator Mareane indicated that by the committee’s next meeting he will present a package of accounting and policy recommendations to bring the budget into balance for 2009.  The recommendations will be based on ongoing analysis of the County’s financial situation conducted by administration and finance over the past two weeks.

Wells College announced today that it has surpassed its ambitious goal of raising $1.5 million dollars for its annual fund, offering a ray of hope for nonprofits in an otherwise gloomy atmosphere.

Like most American colleges and universities, Wells has dealt with budgetary difficulties since onset of the global financial crisis. In the wake of that crisis, colleges nationwide have seen plummeting endowments, financially needier students, and compromised state and federal aid. But unlike most other colleges and universities, Wells College has surpassed its goal for annual fund dollars in this year’s difficult fundraising climate. The College’s financial year closed on June 30, 2009.

When Lansing voters approved two capital projects last December the expectation was that work would begin on an energy savings plan this summer, and a new roof on the Elementary School would be completed before school starts in the Fall.  While the energy contract work has been tied up in paperwork, the roof project has gone forward.  But according to Buildings & Grounds Supervisor Glenn Fenner the work has not been going as expected.

"We had a real problem with our carpenters," Fenner says.  "They were kind of slow.  If you looked up there and saw something moving it wasn't the carpenters.  Those carpenters are no longer here."

Better Housing For Tompkins County, Inc. was awarded $1,659,913 by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal's Housing Trust Fund Program for substantial renovation of the 24-year old Newfield Gardens facility. The 0% loan which closed and became available to spend on June 19th, 2009 will become a grant at the end of the 30-year compliance period.  An additional grant in the amount of $48,400 for the energy efficiency improvements comes from the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency becomes available after project completion.

Nearly 2,000 New Yorkers have already declared their support for State Senator Mike Nozzolio’s efforts to repeal the regressive new State Assessment Tax on utility bills. Senator Nozzolio has started an online petition calling upon Governor Paterson and Senate President Malcolm Smith to eliminate the tax, which was included in their 2009-10 State Budget.

“In less than 24 hours, I have received thousands of responses from constituents who are also fed up with yet another unnecessary, burdensome tax,” said Senator Nozzolio. “This overwhelming response should send a clear message to Governor Paterson and Senator Smith to repeal this onerous tax before even more homeowners and job-producing businesses vote with their feet and leave the state altogether.”

Legislature Holds Recreation Partnership to Target Guidelines

By a narrow vote, the Legislature declined to approve a resolution that would have relieved the intermunicipal Recreation Partnership from having to prepare a budget to meet the County’s budget preparation guidelines.  The vote was 6-7, with Legislators Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Nathan Shinagawa, Mike Sigler, Jim Dennis, Kathy Luz Herrera and Chair Mike Koplinka-Loehr voting no, and Legislators Mike Hattery and Tyke Randall absent.